SACRAMENTO, CA - A year after he headed a team of investors who bought the Sacramento Kings and began to talk about creating a new model for a sports franchise, Vivek Ranadivé has been nominated for Street & Smith’s Sports Business Award’s “Sports Executive of the Year.” Ranadivé said in a statement issued by the Kings he sees the nomination as a reflection of the strong fan support the basketball team has.

“When my partners and I purchased the Kings in 2013, I was immediately humbled by the fans’ dedication,” Ranadivé, team chairman said. “And today we’re on track to truly build a 21st century franchise, powered by innovative technologies, an expansive global reach and a deep commitment to serving the community. This nomination is a nod to the power of NBA 3.0 and all who are contributing to make it a reality.”Since his ownership team came on board, the Kings have led the NBA in year-over-year ticket sales and attendance increases, among other categories. The team is planning to start work this year on a new downtown arena to open in fall 2016.Among the other nominees for 2014 areKevin Plank of athletic wear company Under Armour, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, MLS Commissioner Don Garberand Randy Freer of Fox Sports Media Group.